Joshua Victor is my first and middle name. I was named after Joshua in the Old Testament, who was a Victor in his own right, leading the Children of Israel into the promised Land. But this Joshua was a foreshadowing of the New and Greater Joshua, who would be the Victor over sin, death, and the devil, and would lead the New Children of Israel into the Promised Land of Heaven. This is none other than Jesus Christ, who by His death and resurrection is the True Victor.

Monday, September 08, 2014

Sermon on Romans 13:1-10, for the 13th Sunday after Pentecost, "Dual Citizenship and Debts of Love", Part 12

Part 12 of a 13 part series, "God's Greater Story" on the Book of Romans.

In the Name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. Like many other chapters in Romans, chapter
13 is so full of content and application, it will be impossible to explore it
all in one sermon. Paul sets before us the reality, also taught elsewhere, that
Christians maintain a “dual citizenship” of sorts. On the one hand, like all
people, we are citizens of a “kingdom” or nation here on earth. There are
nearly 200 independent nations in our world today. On the other hand,
Christians also hold citizenship in the one kingdom of heaven, and as the book
of Hebrews says, (13:14) “For here we
have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” Therefore, I
am a Christian first, and an American second. And hopefully you understand that
means if ever the two come into conflict, I must obey God, rather than men.

As soon as the presence of Christians was
felt by the Roman empire, they had to make the case that they were neither
revolutionaries, nor subversives, but lawful citizens who were submissive to
just laws and rule. That goes all the way back to Jesus Christ Himself, who was
challenged by both Jews or Romans about whether He was a threat to the existing
powers. On one occasion Jesus affirmed the necessity to pay taxes: “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s”,
but emphasized our higher calling to “render
to God what is God’s.” Before Pontius Pilate Jesus affirmed that He was a
King, though His “kingdom is not of this
world.” Early Christians faced repercussions when they refused to sacrifice
to the Caesars as to gods, but they maintained their willingness to obey laws
that did not violate their faith. Christians in every country today face the
very same challenges. Acknowledging God as the highest authority in our lives
neither frees us from responsibility to our earthly leaders and governments,
nor does it make us unpatriotic.

When I say that Christians are “dual
citizens” of sorts, do not think that earthly kingdoms or governments are
outside of God’s rule. All authority is from (or under) God, and governing
authorities are instituted by God to rule over us. So earthly kingdoms ruled by
men, and the spiritual, heavenly kingdom ruled by God—are both under His authority
alone. Lutherans often call the government the “kingdom of the left hand”, and the
church, the “kingdom of the right hand” to acknowledge that God rules both by
His power. But also to recognize that God works out His rule differently in
each kingdom or “realm.” Government is appointed by God to “bear the sword”—to
carry out punishments against evildoers, to enforce laws, to uphold justice and
good conduct, to collect taxes, etc. The church does not execute earthly
punishments or bear the sword, but is instead the place where we hear the
living voice of God’s Word. It proclaims to us the law that condemns our sins
(both individual sins and collective injustices that are ingrained in our
society or government). The church also proclaims the living voice of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ that forgives us our sins because of what Christ has
done for us. Church on the right hand and government on the left hand, are both
authorized by God for varying, and sometimes overlapping tasks, but the way
that they operate is necessarily different.

A Christian lives at this busy
intersection between church and state, which raises a multitude of questions
about how we are to live. Most times, the two will not conflict—but sometimes
they do. Fortunately Scripture lays out some clear boundaries to guide us.
First, our conduct should be blameless, or else we’ll be rightfully punished for
breaking the law. The forgiveness of sins, which we receive before God, does
not free us from civil penalties or punishments that we may deserve if we have
committed crimes or broken the law. The normal obligations and privileges of
citizens apply equally to Christians as to non-Christians. If we’re called upon
to serve in the military, or fight as a soldier in a just war, we can in good
conscience do so, in obedience to the government. If we owe taxes, we should
pay them responsibly. If we are obligated to certain debts, we must pay them.
These are not unchristian things to do, but civil duties we are commanded to do
as Christians. But if ever we are commanded to do something that violates God’s
law, or enticed to do something that might be legal in our nation, but sinful
according to God’s Word—we are bound to the higher authority of God, not to do
it. When told not to preach in the name of Jesus, the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men”—and
they prepared to face whatever consequences they might face from earthly
authorities. The same holds true for Christians today—we must obey God above
all.

As a Roman citizen, Paul’s hearers had a
different set of privileges than Americans citizens; but we can and should
participate in good conscience in our unique privileges. That includes voting,
participating in the political process to make and reform laws, and running for
and serving in public offices. Being a Christian does not exclude us from any
of these forms of participation, and neither does it mean that we are required
to “check our beliefs at the door”, or the voting booth, or upon taking public
office. At the same time, the Christian recognizes that many non-Christians hold citizenship in our nations, and that they
are not held to a specifically Christian morality. But a nation must uphold
basic morals and justice. The Bible never proposes a new code or plan of
government, but commands our obedience to the governments that exist.

Remember that Paul wrote this letter
while Nero was emperor of Rome. While persecution had not yet broken out in its
full intensity, Nero would soon become one of the most violent persecutors of
Christians. So that is to say, Paul was not writing about submitting to a
church-friendly, or even a perfectly just government. And obeying earthly
governments, even hostile ones, does not mean that individual Christians cannot
be agents for good, even if they are entirely alone as a believer, or without
political influence. We need only turn to Biblical examples like Joseph,
Esther, Nathan, Daniel, or others to see how God can bless a single person
speaking the truth or acting justly, and they can have profound influence as a
result. Greatest of all is Jesus our Lord, whose unjust trial and crucifixion
at the hands of tyrannical powers, proved that there is a greater King and
kingdom that rules over the petty powers of men. Jesus’ insistent voice of
truth and His rising from the dead exposed the injustice of rulers and proved
His higher authority. And because Jesus distinguished between the spiritual
kingdom He came to rule, and the kingdoms of men—we make the same distinction
today. “My kingdom is not of this world.”

So back at that intersection of these
two kingdoms, Christians can be a positive force for change in our own nation
in many ways that are legally open to them. We can oppose unjust laws, and try
to improve on them, for the sake of the common good. We can come to the aid of
the poor, the abandoned and neglected, and the unborn, whether through
organizations run by the church, or the state. There may be aspiring young
people in our congregation who should grow up to serve as leaders with moral
courage and integrity, to serve as leaders in the church, or as politicians!
Both are callings from God, and should be done faithfully to His glory. And
both are called ministers or servants of God!

In our individual lives, Christians must
show the highest regard for God’s commandments and care for our neighbor, which
will give glory to God. Christians must not shrink back from speaking the
truth, loudly if necessary, to condemn unjust laws or actions on the part of
the government, and to seek justice for those who cannot speak for or defend
themselves. In other words, Christians are to live out the command to “love
your neighbor as yourself” in all the ways described in the Ten Commandments,
not only in churches and Christian communities, but among all we meet. Pastors
must teach and preach on moral and ethical concerns, whether they are perceived
as “political” or not. But that does not mean that pastors or the church are
policy makers, or that they choose which candidates we should vote for, or that
the church presumes to dictate the strategies and solutions that government
must pursue.

Our role is to speak out against
injustice, to encourage Christians and all citizens to do their duty and make
use of their rights as such, and to pray earnestly for our leaders. They have
an unimaginably difficult job. The crises that our leaders face are dizzying,
and we must pray for our leaders, whether Republican, Democrat, Independent, or
whatever—praying that they would be given wisdom to lead and pursue justice. We
respect and obey our leaders not for how far they agree or disagree with our
own ideas, nor for how good or bad their life is, but for the sake of the
office and responsibility they hold. The office is greater than the woman or
man who holds it, because these offices of leadership are ministers and
servants of God, for our good. They reward good, lawful citizenship, and punish
the wrongdoers, as authorized by God.

Whenever we speak of authority, we
always need to remember that no one has authority unless it is given to them
from above. Jesus reminded Pontius Pilate of this, when Pilate threatened
Jesus, that he had the power to free Him or crucify Him. “You would have no authority over me at all, unless it had been given
you from above”, Jesus answered (John 19:10-11). Government may claim the
highest authority in the land, but it’s not the highest authority on earth—as
all nations, all governments, are answerable to God. We should especially
remember this when governments and leaders stray from the rule of justice and
order that God has assigned.

But even greater than Paul’s message
about the Christian’s dual citizenship, is the overarching truth that we owe
one another a debt of love, to love our neighbor as ourselves. It’s the basic
rule and motivation of our involvement in both spheres of our life—the spiritual,
and the earthly. Because Christ died for us, rescued us from our sins—we face
no condemnation before God, and we owe a debt of love. Many debts are negative.
The debt of a mortgage—is often a 30 year grind. The debt of our sin—impossible
for us to pay, but paid in full by Christ. Nothing could ever repay Christ’s
love and sacrifice, and the countless riches that God has given. But this is a
positive debt. A debt of love. A debt in which Jesus Himself supplies the love
by which we pay it. A debt that never puts us at a loss, but ever increases our
gain. As we love, we receive love in return. And even when love doesn’t return
to us, we continue to love, as we heard last week, even toward enemies. Against
love, there is no law.

The many ways that a Christian can and
should be involved in their life as a citizen in this earthly kingdom, should
all be counted as the product and result of our debt of love to God and
neighbor. Politics can easily be misused to seek power for its own sake, or for
personal gain. But this must never be so for the Christian. As Jesus reminded
His disciples, “You know that those who
are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones
exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you.
But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and
whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even
the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a
ransom for many” (Mark 10:42–45). In the whole of our Christian life, in
both kingdoms that we live, we are to live by this servant love. A debt of love
and gratitude for Jesus’ ransoming us from our sins. A debt of love that we pay
in Christian conduct and service in all that we do, in both church and state. In
Jesus’ name, Amen.

Sermon Talking Points

Read past sermons at: http://thejoshuavictortheory.blogspot.com

Listen to audio at: http://thejoshuavictortheory.podbean.com

Romans 13 is a
key passage helping Christians to understand their roles as citizens of two
kingdoms—of an earthly kingdom (the government) and the heavenly kingdom
(the Church—leading toward heavenly glory). Hebrews 11:10, 16; 12:22;
13:14. Where is the Christian’s greater loyalty?

What does it
mean to be “subject to” or “submit” to authority? What are some examples
of “submission” in the Bible? Luke 2:51; 10:17; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13; 1
Corinthians 15:27-28; Ephesians 5:21-24. Why is submission different from
inferiority or blind obedience? Acts 5:29

What are the
implications of the fact that all authority is under God’s higher
authority? The implications for leaders? The implication for citizens,
regarding our obedience? What does God authorize governments to do? Romans
13:2-7

Pick a person
from Bible history, such as Joseph in the book of Genesis, the prophet
Daniel, Queen Esther, the apostle Paul, or another. Describe how they
served as an agent for good and to do God’s will, even within unfriendly
governments. What made their influence or impact so great, even while they
were exiles, or outnumbered, or of little or no rank at all?

How can you, a
Christian, be a “dual citizen”, and an agent for good here in this earthly
kingdom? What responsibilities do you have to your government and to your
neighbor? What truth are you called to speak? What duty of love must you
put into action for your neighbor? Why do we owe a debt of love? How did
Christ set the example for us? John 18:33-37; 19:10-11; Matthew 22:21.